In theory disconnecting T3 and T4 at the NTE should be sufficient. Certainly doing it there is where the major effect usually results.

In practice there have been reports that also disconnecting at all other sockets has helped a little. This does include those not in use.

The problem is that the ring wire in particular acts as a radio antenna, picks up electomagnetic noise, and puts it onto the incoming line which only has T2 and T5 equivalents.

This is the problem with a plug-in phone extension cable. You introduce the ring wire usually found in those.

Well I've only had the one disconnect so that is a result!
Its not really a proper test tonight as I'm home alone so all the other stuff is dormant, but it is a good sign.

I've had the odd disconnect before and there must have been others I've missed, but the connection has been pretty damn good and the only time I've ever had to contact Zen before was for a totally stupid thing that I should have known anyway, they do provide a good service and I have no complaints.

I still can't get my head around why doing what I've done has fixed the problem though its just so weird!

I usually turn the router off when I'm done, but I'm going to leave it on for a few days and monitor it, I'll report back here with my findings.

As this has been the first stable night I've had with everything plumbed in as it should be since the problem started, I cannot thank you guys enough!

Paul

Hi Paul, I've been reading through your thread, and found it quite interesting. The people here are happy to help, but when they see "Anonymous" it can be hard to differentiate.

If you registered with this site (which is FREE), you would get a lot more help & replies.

This site doesn't spam you, and you could keep a log & graph of your speedtests. You would see and be able to post in every forum. You WILL love it, and I will even give it a 30 minute guarantee (starting an hour ago).

Enjoy!

Registered

My ISP has replied back with this

http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/rein.htm

Its probably well known about on this site, but figured I'd share anyway.

Not directly connected with the specific problem but back about 1996, I was assisting a BT Engineer to locate a problem with a simple phone installation.

Although I have never been a phone engineer, several of my basic qualifications were in that field; and I have occasionally done phone work over the years as an incidental to radar, radio and computing work - the latter including major networks.

The problem was really loud noise on the line, the line coming in the back window of the house, to an old-style screw-terminal box. The noise was occasionally "painful".

The line was then continued through that room to the hall at the front, where the one "simple" 1980s phone was installed.

No extensions, no power adaptors, no battery or external power to the phone etc.

Totally disconnected at the master box - noise continued

With the master disconnected, phone disconnected BT Test Phone produced same noise.

Checked the internal wiring, all surface and easily seen - noise continued.

There was an extreme medical emergency situation in the household (Easter Sunday to compound matters), so we replaced the master socket with the early version of the present design, and managed to connect the domestic phone to it, all at that rear window - SILENCE, no noise!

The original, now totally isolated, internal wiring continued to produce the noise, when tested again with the BT Test Phone.

Two, very puzzled persons!

Have you thought about getting a Pre-filtered faceplate
This and running a twisted pair RJ11-RJ11 cable This to your router?

Installing this faceplate, and hardwireing your alarm, extensions etc into the faceplate, will have no effect on your broadband because it is filtered at the source

Alarms should not be wired to an NTE5 faceplate. Removing the faceplate would set off the alarm at the monitoring station.

I see that, and well done!!

The website that you linked too is VERY good. Good idea to bookmark that site. It's good for referencing stuff.

You can see tweaking info if you scroll down to the bottom of this page. You can see the same info in my sig, as well as other stuff too.
If you ever need help with anything, just ask. This site is free, as is the advice.

Enjoy!

In reply to a post by Bewsh:

Have you thought about getting a Pre-filtered faceplate
This and running a twisted pair RJ11-RJ11 cable This to your router?

Installing this faceplate, and hardwireing your alarm, extensions etc into the faceplate, will have no effect on your broadband because it is filtered at the source

The problem is fixed now as I've had no more disconnects.

That plate is a good idea, but the location of my NTE in the hallway would mean having a cable hanging out of the wall and routing it to where I need it would be very messy.